Chapter 6

One day, out of the blue Ben announced that he had decided to take emeritus status. What that meant was he was retiring, but, would continue to guest lecture and host the show. He told me that he had put my name up to replace him. I was choked up thinking of the idea that I could ever presume to replace him.

I prepared for the process, but, Ben told me it was just a formality. When I attended the open hearing headed by the Dean, I was prepared for any eventuality, or so I thought. There I was at the table facing the committee, Laura was seated behind me. I was ready for my coronation. Then Karen Hudgens intervened and destroyed my perfect little world.

"Dr. Reed, I'm afraid the committee has received some information that has cast some doubt on your ability to head the math department. We will now hear from a graduate assistant, Ms. Karen Hudgens that alleges some impropriety on your part."

I sat dumbfounded as the weeping student testified how I had coerced her into having an affair for the years she had attended the university. I kept interrupting the testimony protesting my innocence, but, the Dean continued to allow the girl to continue. I kept looking at each committee member desperately willing them not to believe the lies being told.

I looked back at Laura and grieved as I saw the tears running down her face. Somehow, I tried to convey that she needed to believe me. More and more allegations came from Karen Hudgens and I heard sobs coming from Laura.

Finally Karen Hudgens stepped down. I was livid and shaking from anger ready to clear my name. Then the Dean had another little surprise for me. Two of Karen's roommates came forward to testify and corroborated every allegation that she had levied against me. I continued to reel from this Kafkaesque nightmare. I looked back again to see Laura and all I saw was an empty chair. I slumped down in defeat as the testimony finally finished.

Then I watched as the Dean with a smug little grin announced that I could make a statement. With a stunned stammering voice I began to speak.

"I do not know why these individuals came forth today to tell all the lies and disparagements cast against me today. I categorically deny every allegation levied against me and ask that an investigation be conducted to ascertain why these slanderous statements were made. I also request that this hearing be put on hold until the results of that investigation are made known."

The committee retired into another room. Ten minutes later they came out with a unanimous vote not to promote me to Ben's position. I staggered out of the building as people began to avoid me. I went home only to find that Laura had hastily packed a suitcase and had left me. Not knowing what else to do I went over to see Ben.

He was ashen faced when I came into the house. "Reed, I don't know what to say. I knew that the Dean disliked me for all the trouble that I caused him, but, I never had any idea that he would take it out on you. We will ask for a rehearing, we'll drum up support, get those girls to recant. We can make this right."

"Ben, Laura left me and I have no idea where she is. Right now my priority is to find her and get her to listen to me."

"God, Reed, I'm so sorry." Ben groaned.

I went home and started trying to track down Laura. Every possible contact I had denied knowing where she was. Weeks passed by and still I had not heard from her. The university had made Jason Feder the interim department head. I soon discovered that I had been evicted from my office.

Then one night I was woken by a call from Teri at two a.m. She was at the emergency room with Ben. I rushed down there only to find her crying. Ben had passed away from a heart attack ten minutes before I got there.

It was a surreal time as we struggled to get through the funeral. Laura did not attend. I kept by Teri's side trying everything I could to ease her pain. After the burial she took me aside and told me that she was leaving and moving to Florida to be with her sister. All I could do was to tell her I would miss her.

When I saw her leave for Florida it was as though I had lost my last remaining support. Soon I heard that the university had expedited their hearing and promoted Jason Feder to Ben's position. He called me into his office for a meeting and made me wait for two hours before seeing me. I could tell he was enjoying putting me in my place. He wasted no time in telling me that I had been accused of plagiarizing someone's work. When I asked who was accusing me he grinned and told me my wife, Laura had brought the charge.

I soon faced another committee chaired by the Dean looking into the allegation that I had stolen someone's work. This time I was represented by counsel and I nervously waited for Laura's appearance. She came in and fixed me with a look of sheer hatred. I began to call out to her only to be hushed by my attorney. She proceeded to tell the committee that for years I had stolen the work of one of my colleagues and passed it off as my own with the help of my friend, the late Dr. Stevens. The colleague that I presumably had stolen work from turned out to be none other than Dr. Jason Feder.

Try as he could to shake her story my attorney failed to catch her in any major inconsistency. She left the stand not looking at me as I continued to call after her. I could tell the handwriting was on the wall as the committee deliberated. Sure enough, they soon came back and told me I was terminated for plagiarizing Dr. Feder's work.

Two weeks later I was served with the divorce papers from Laura. Again, I tried to see her to persuade her not to go through with it. At the deposition, I was threatened to be held in contempt by continuing to interrupt trying to get Laura to talk to me. Finally, the deposition was halted due to my efforts to talk directly to her. I was brought before the judge and cited with contempt.

The judge remembered that when we finally had the hearing. The divorce was granted and Laura was awarded 65 % of all our assets. She was also given the house and I was ordered to pay alimony for two years. When she walked out of the courtroom, she still refused to speak to me as Jason Feder put his arm around her to comfort her.

The last straw was when I was served with her lawsuit over the rights to the TV show. I just threw the paperwork down, hopped on my bike and began riding. I really had no idea where I was headed. I suppose she got a default judgment against me, but, I never went to look. All I knew was everything I had worked for; everything I had cared for was now gone.